
Book.>li^l4- 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




LOUISA PALMIER MYERS 

ILLUSTRATED 

Fresh dewdrops clinging to a rose, 
That in some fragrant garden grows, 
Are not more passing fair to see, 
In their transparent purity, 
Than tender hearts that fondly cling, 
To love, in youth's ambrosial Spring. 




F. TENNYSON NEELY CO. 




LONDON 



THE LIBRARY OF 

CONGRESS, 
Two Cortta Received 

AUG. 5 1901 

CLASS A'XXc. No. 
COPY B. 



76 3^^^ 



Copyright, 1901, 

by 

LOUISA PALMIER MYERS. 

in th« 

Unitea States 

and 

Great Brit.iin. 

Entered at Stationers Hall, London. 



^ ^ ^Ij Rights Reserved. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

The Preludi; • 

The Meeting 3 

The Flirtation » " 

Love's Enchantment • 16 

Parting Scenes. • - • 24 

L'Envoi 40 



AN IDYL OF THE RHINE. 



CI)« Prelude, 

'Tis of a summers sweet 

romance 
I cing. Plan as we may mere 

chance 
Will sometimes change our lives and 

bring 
Unlookcd for happiness. I 

sing 
Of love in its divinest 

form, — ■ 
The love of youth, intensely 

warm 
Yet innocent and pure as 

snow; 
Of tender, throbbing hearts 

aglow 

% 



An Idyl of the Rliine. 

.With passion's first enkindled 

flame, 
I Bing; and how two strangers 

came 
To meet in an unusual 

way: 
'A simple maiden, I will 

Bay, 
And daring youth of high 

degree. 
Of classic shores beyond the 

sea, 
Where mountains rear their heads so 

high 
As, seemingly, to touch the 

sky; 
Of ruined castles on the 

Rhine, 
Where grape and ivy 

intertwine ; 
Of summer days there idly 

spent 
'Mid pleasures gay, while fancy 

lent 
A tender charm to 

everything, 
I faithfully and fondly 

sing. 

2 



The Meeting:. 



CDe n?eetitig. 

At Bingen, in the month of 

May, 
I chanced to be one gala 

day, 
Amid a gay and festive 

scene 
Enlivening a garden 

green. 
Loud strains of music filled the 

air 
And wine flowed freely 

everywhere ; 
And brimming mugs of foaming 

beer 
Dispensed their effervescent 

cheer. 
The portly dames and damsels 

fair, 
With heads of shining golden 

hair, 

3 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

The gay gallants and martial 

air 
Of uniforms assembled 

there. 
The drinking and the 

revelry. 
All, all were strangely new to 

me. 
My chaperone — indulgent 

dame, 
I ne'er shall cease to bless her 

name — • 
Grew weary soon, and let me 

stray 
At will 'mid that assembly 

gay. 

Entranced, I wandered here and 

there, 
Ecgardlcss of remark or 

stare. 
At length I joined a moving 

throng 
Of people. As I pressed 

along 
Beside a crowded, festal 

board. 
Where clink of glass and clank of 

sword 

4 



c 




FELIX. 



The Meeting. 

Proclaimed the merry 

revelry 
Of some of Deutschland's 

chivalry, 
A silken fringe about ray 

gown 
Became entangled. With a 

frown 
I tried to jerk the meshes 

looso 
But only tighter drew the 

noose 
Which held me fast; for, strange to 

tell, 
A button on a gay 

lapel 
Had truly been lassoed while 

I 
So heedlessly was passing 

by; 
And, instantly, to my 

surprise, 
I saw a Black Hussar 

arise, 
His face abeam with 

merriment 
O'er this unlooked for 

accident. 

5 



An Idyl of the Rhine* 

Politely bowing low to 

me. 
He caught the fringe up 

gracefully. 
And turned and twisted it 

around — • 
Wrong way of course — until he 

wound 
The shank so tight that skillful 

hand 
Could not undo the knotted 

strand. 
Confused, I stood and mutely 

gazed, 
At him, I fear, like some one 

dazed. 
For never was so fair a 

face 
United with more manly 

grace. 
The limpid azure of his 

eyes 
Outrivaled soft Italian 

skies, 
And curly locks of golden 

hair 
Waved o'er a forehead wondrous 

fair ; 



The Meeting'. 

The emblem of a crown he 

bore 
Across the shoulder-straps lie 

wore. 
For Brunswick claimed his right to 

wield 
His s^\ord upon the 

battlefield ; 
Full five feet ten, with princely 

air. 
He had no martial equal 

there. 
His jolly comrades laughed 

outright 
At our unusual helpless 

plight. 
And gaily joked him till he 

grew 
Impatient. Without more 

ado 
He, utt'ring some strange, foreign 

word 
Withdrew a small, short-bladed 

sword. 
And with its point, so bright and 

keen. 
Cut off the button, smooth and 

clean. 

7 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

"You're very kind," I said, but 

he 
Just smiled and bowed aud gazed at 

me. 
While thus he stood, a god 

divine, 
His blue eyes looking into 

mine, 
His glances flashed a thrill through 

me 
Surcharged with sweetest 

eestacy. 
From out tlieir sources in my 

heart, 
T felt the crimson rivers 

start 
And through their channels hotly 

flow 
Beneath that keen, electric 

glow; 
And, tho' released, a subtler 

snare 
Than silken meshes held mo 

there 
Till some one lightly touched mine 

arm. 
And partially dispelled the 

charm, 

8 



The Meeting;. 

By saying : "Mary, don't you 

know 
'Tis growing late and time to 



go 



?" 



Becoming fidgety, no 

doubt. 
My chaperone had sought me 

out 
And seemed to view with much 

surprise 
My blushing cheeks and downcast 

eyes. 
All trembling with sensations 

new 
At length I stammered forth 

"Adieu." 
The soldier, sighing, bowed 

again. 
And answered low : "Auf 

wiederselien." 
The sleep of youth is like the 

dew 
Which falls at evening to 

imbrue 
The drooping plants ; no 

wakefulness 
Nor troubled dreams to sore 

distress 

9 



An Idyl oi the Rhine. 

Its poacefiil shiinber; angels 

keep 
Kind watches o'er such gentle 

sleep, 
For pleasing visions drive 

away 
The small vexations of the 

day 
And leave the freshened brain 

serene 
As some awakened valley 

green : 
So, in my dreams that night, I 

heard 
The singing of a 

mocking-bird 
That warbled forth a sweet 

refrain 
E'er ending thus : "^Im/ 

wiedcrsehen." 



10 



The Flirtation. 



Ci)e Fltrtdtton. 



"Fair Biugen !" Old historic 

town 
Of feudal lords and bold 

renown ! 
Of vine-clad hills and ruined 

towers ! 
Of music, mirth and fragrant 

flowers ! 
How very fair it seemed to 

me 
With all its martial 

gaiety 
And glowing, ruddy faces, 

where 
I failed to find a trace of 

care; 
How pleasing to my 

vanity 
Its easy, well-bred 

gallantry. 

n 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

Ero long I learned the Black 

Hussar 
Was Felix, young 

Yon Sclionstewahr, 
A scion of a noble 

line 
Of princely dwellers near the 

Rhine. 
A consciousness of native 

grace 
Of every movement, form and 

face, 
No doubt emboldened him to 

seek 
An opportunity to 

speak 
To me whene'er we chanced to 

be 
In some gay, public 

company. 
By every pleasing, artful 

Avile, 
That doth the female heart 

beguile. 
The gallant soldier sought to 

prove 
His admiration and his 

love, 

S2 



The Flirtation. 

When in a crowd, sometimes I'd 

^ see 
A white glove waft a kiss to 

me, 
Or else I'd hear a deep-drawn 

sigh 
And, turning, quickly catch his 

eye. 
And then receive a melting 

glance 
That would my very soul 

entrance. 
But, tho' my heart overflowed with 

]oy 
My girlish shyness made me 

coy. 
In doubt and fear, at first I 

knew 
Not what to say or what to 

do; 
So, blushing, simply feigned to 

be 
Unconscious of liis 

gallantry. 
But love will conquer fear or 

pride 
And have its way, whate'er 

betide. 

J3 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

One day I yielded to his 

guile ; 
I timidly returned his 

smile, 
Then listened to his pleading 

and. 
Most meekly, let him kiss my 

hand. 
No doubt all this was wrong, as 

he 
Had dared to pay his court to 

me 
Unsanctioned by the formal 

code 
Of presentation a la 

mode; 
But I was scarcely eighteen 

then, 
And he the courtliest of 

men. 
My friends all called young Felix 

bold 
And gave him looks severely 

cold. 
Perhaps I might have done so 

too 
Had he but turned his eyes of 

blue 

J4 



The Flittation. 

T6ward some more favored friend of 

mine 
And worshiped only at her 

shrine — 
The diif 'rcnce one may plainly 

see 
'Twixt worshiping a friend or 

me. 
For women rarely fail to 

find 
Excuses for a lover 

kind; 
Each deems the passion she 

inspires 
A holy flame of pure 

desires, 
Yet thinks it duty to 

repress 
A sister's show of 

tenderness. 



15 



An Idyl of the Rhine* 



£ooe'$ €iicl)antmeiir* 

There is no earthly 

paradise 
O'er-canopied by cloudless 

skies. 
But sometimes even here we 

find 
A transient Eden for 

mankind : 
When Heaven opens with a 

kiss 
Tlie common world is veiled in 

bliss. 
Young Felix, brave and 

resolute, 
With passion boldly pressed his 

suit. 
In spite of frowns we sat or 

strayed — 
Most lover-like — ^beneath the 

shade 

t6 



Lovers Enchantment. 

Of linden boughs, while fancy 

grew 
From friendship to affection 

true. 
Life soon became a sweet 

routine 
Of pleasures planned or 

unforeseen. 
Up on the Nieder-Wahlden - 

height. 
Where fair Germania charms the 

sight. 
We'd sit for hours and sip our 

wine 
And look down on the classic 

Ehine, 
Whoso waters flow in rippling 

rhyme 
'Twixt Bingen fair and 

Eudesheim. 
Among the crumbling, massive 

walls 
Of stately old baronial 

halls 
Where ivy twines and lizards 

play 
At hide and seek, we'd ofttimes 

stray ; 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

Dear Felix there wild legends 

told 
Of Deutschland's ruthless, warriors 

bold 
Who, in the feudal days of 

old. 
Supremely reigned o'er stream and 

wold. 
While I, with ghostly fear 

impressed. 
Drew closer to his manly 

breast. 
When Phoebus, smiling god of 

day, 
Had turned his beaming face 
1 away, 
"And Luna, gentle queen of 

night, 
Refused us her bewitching 

light. 
We sought a summer garden 

where 
We breathed the cool, refreshing 

air 
And listened to gay 

minstrelsy, 
Or strains of classic 
melody, 



Love's Enchantment. 

Till lips could only well 

, express. 
Through contact, all our 

tenderness ; 
When starless, threat'ning skies 

above, 
Looked frowningly upon our 

love. 
We whirled amid the t^iddy 

dance 
And found sweet solace in a 

glance. 
The course of true love, so they 

say, 
Is not an even, loving 

way; 
But smoother roadway ne'er could be 

be 
Than that so we trod, 

joyfully. 
Thro' summer days that seemed to 

me 
But moments in 

eternity ; 
For frowning dames had had their 

say 
And left me mistress of the 

day— 

t9 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

Tho' doubtless some o'cr-anxious 

friend 
Oft wondered how it all would 

end. 
When verdant lawns lay brown and 

dry 
Beneath a scorching, summer 

sky, 
My Felix fondly followed 

me 
From Bingcn to the Thuner 

Sea. 
And there, shut in by Alpine 

heights. 
We found a vale of new 

delights. 
Love echoed thro' the rugged 

hills, 
Love sparkled in the dancing 

rills. 
Love breathed the fragrance of the 

flowers 
And sported in the leafy 

bowers, 
While we, like eager babes who 

try 
To catch a flitting 

butterfly, 

20 



Love's Enchantment* 

With flying footstcptj there 

pursued 
The winged god thro' ghide and 

wood — 
We touched his plumes, we heard him 

speak. 
And felt his breath on lip and 

cheek. 
The heart from wlieuce emotion 

springs 
Infolds a lyre with many 

strings ; 
Its sweetest chords, till touched by 

love. 
Are silent. Angels from 

above 
Then seem to play with magic 

hand 
Upon each thrilling silv'ry 

strand. 
The music swells and fills the 

air, 
Eesounding sweetly 

everywhere. 
When autumn tints began to 

glow 
Below the Jungfrau's veil of 

snow, 

2$ 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

And flitting birds to gaily 

flee 
From foreign shores across the 

sea 
My Love and I too bade 

adieu 
To Alpine haunts and backward 

flew 
To those about our old 

retreat 
Beside the Ehine. Life seemed 

complete. 
Sweet passion pinioned in the 

Spring, 
Still soared aloft on joyous 

wing, 
'Mid dreamy skies of azure 

hue 
And rainbows charged with fragrant 

dew. 
Fresh dewdrops clinging to a 

rose 
That in some fragrant garden 

grows, 
Are not more passing fair to 

see. 
In their transparent 

purity, 

22 



Lovers Enchantment. 

Than tender hearts that fondly 

cling 
To love, in youth's ambrosial 

Spring. 



23 



An Idyl o{ the Rhine. 



parting Scenes, 

Time's steady march caniiol. be 

stayed 
By sighing youth and loving 

maid. 
The glory of the harvest 

moon 
Had come and gone; the paths wore 

strewn 
With yellow leaves ; a dreamy 

mist 
O'erhiing the monntain tops and 

kissed 
The fleecy clouds which flecked the 

sky; 
The fiery glance of Phoehus' 

eye 
Had lost its fiorccnops ; somber 

night 
Encroached upon the hours of 

light 

24 



Parting: Scenes. 

With steady pace; October's 

lareath 
Had touched the leaves, and chilled to 

death 
A tender, little mountain 

flower 
That oft had charmed a passing 

hour ; 
All round, the woodlands lately 

green. 
Were now a variegated 

scene 
Of gaudy tints; from vine-clad 

wall 
A drapery, like a Persian 

shawl. 
Hung gaily down ; the autumn 

rain 
Had brought the grass to life 

again. 
And freshened thirsty brooks and 

rills. 
Which dashed or rippled down the 

hills ; 
It almost seemed another 

Spring, 
With just a change of 
coloring. 

25 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

But with these passing changes 
. came 

No change in love; 'twas e'er the 
' same 
Enchantment ; e'er the same sweet 

spell 
, Which first had caused onr hearts to 

swell 
With deep emotion. Nobly 

true 
Had Felix proved. His eyes of 

blue 
And rosy lips still plead a 

cause — • 
Decreed to him by Nature's 

laws 
Long months before — as 

ardently 
As when he first made love to 

me: 
Thus, we absorbed in thought 

sublime. 
Loved on and took no note of 

Time, 
Till happiness and sorrow 

lay 
Divided by a single 

day. 

26 



Parting Scenes. 

A message from across the 

sea. 
Which said, *'Come home 

immediately," 
Awoke us from the dreamy 

trance 
Of youthful lovers' first 

romance. 
Ah, then, but not till then we 

knew 
That Cupid's darts could punish, 

too! 
The morning dawned most wondrous 

fair 
Which heralded our keen 

despair ; 
Dear Felix with heroic 

pride. 
Kept bravely up till 

eventide ; 
But when the cheering beams of 

light 
Were lost in shadows of the 

night. 
His courage failed, and anxious 

fears 
Bedimmed his eyes with hopeless 

tears. 

n 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

Disconsolate^, our restless 

feet 
Moved to and fro. Each dear 

retreat 
Received ti pure, baptismal 

flow 
From lovers' eyes suffused with 

woo. 
The moon arose above the 

towers. 
Where wc had passed so many 

hours 
Of tenderness, and served to 

guide 
Our footsteps up the mountain 

side ; 
And as we sadly passed 

along 
A path, still musical ^vitli 

song. 
The night-birds in their leafy 

boughs 
Were hushed to silence by our 

vows. 
Altho' the tolling hour was 

late 
We f)asscd within the castle 

gate 

2§ 



Partingf Scenes. 

And fearlessly, at midnight, 

strayed 
Thro' halls where ghostly moonbeams 

played. 
Fatigued, we slowly mounted 

by 

A stairway to a terrace 

high, 
'Twas such a night as one might 

deem 
Befitting love's most ardent 

dream. 
A full moon, sailing round and 

bright. 
Poured down a stream of silv'rj^ 

light 
That flooded everything 

below. 
And set the somber earth 

aglow ; 
Fresh mountain odors filled the 

breeze 
Which stirred the foliage of the 

trees. 
And gently fanned us as we 

stood 
Surveying castle, stream an'dl 

wood; 

29 



An Idyl of the Rhine* 

We saw the waters of the 

Ehine 
Far, far below us gleaming 

shine, 
And heard the rushing current 

roar 
Along the winding, rocky 

shore ; 
A cuckoo from a turret 

high 
Called to its mate with gutt'ral 

cry; 
The little lizards peeped 

between 
Their lattices of 

ivy-green, 
But finding strange intruders 

there 
Soon darted back with frightened 

air. 
Our hearts grew lighter 'neath the 

power 
Of that enchanting place and 

hour, — 
For who could pass his time in 

sighs 
While in the realms of 

paradise ? 

30 



Paiting Scenes. 

What if the Future were 

unknown ! 
The Present, there, was all our 

own 
And we were young and love was 

sweet 
In that fair, Eden-like 

retreat. 
Dear Felix drew me to his 

breast 
And brow and cheek and lip 

caressed. 
With arms entwined we gently 

sank 
Upon a moss-grown rocky 

bank. 
Where, doubtless, in the days of 

yore. 
Fond lovers oft had sat 

before — 
Some gallant knight and lady 

fair. 
Alone, in sweet communion 

there ; 
In silent, voiceless 

tenderness 
That feeble words cannot 

express ; 

31 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

Two hearts alLuncd in 

unison. 
Two i^piriis mingled into 

one. 
All ! liow the preeions moments 

flew 
Till daylight dawned, we never 

knew! 
We'd wisely planned to leave the 

place 
And prudently our steps 

retrace 
Before the envious morning 

light 
Aroused the sleepers of the 

night. 
But clearly rang a bugle 

call, 
And hales played about the 

wall. 
And still wo fondly lingered 

there 
With dewy locks of tangled 

hair 
And dreamy eyes, — all sense of 

sight 
Still lost in visions of the 

night — 

32 



Patting- Sarnes* 

tJnmindfnl of tlie dawn in. »• 

O 

day 
Or what the cruel world might 

say. 
But Nature ever claims her 

right. 
Exhausted by a restless 

night. 
At length we languidly; 

arose 
To seek a moment's calm 

repose 
Before the morning boat should 

bear 
My aching heart away from 

there. 
Then down the rugged mountain 

side, 
With throbbing hearts, we quickly 

hied ; 
And onward o'er the dewy 

lawn 
Until we reached the 

pension. 
The sleepy villagers, no " 

doubt. 
Were shocked to see a young girl 

out 

33 



LofC. 



An Idyl of the Rhine* 

iWithoiit a jDroper 
\ cluiperone, 
lA'ttended by a man 

alone, 
lAt such an early hour; but 

WQ 

Were much too pure in thought to 

bo 
Disturbed by 

impropriety — 
For perfect love is 

sanctity. 
Dear Felix Avoukl have lingered 

still 
Had I not, bj my strength of 

will. 
Enforced him to withdraw, as 

we 
Had planned that he should call for 

me. 
Like some poor wretch who seeks his 

bed 
With fumes of liquor in his 

head, 
I fell on mine and senseless 

lay 
'As some exhausted 

debauchee, 

34 



Parting Scenes. 

My heavy brain too dull to 

be 
The seat of pleasing 

phantasy. 
When I had slept an hour, or 

more. 
Loud knocking on my chamber 

door 
Awoke me — much to my 

surprise, 
I thought I had but closed mine 

eyes. 
I yawned and tried to rise in 

vain. 
Then turned and fell asleep 

again. 
But time and tide refused to 

be 
Eetarded in their course for 

me; 
For soon there came another 

knock 
And some one cried: "'Tis eight 

o'clock ; 
The morning boat is almost 

due. 
And Felix waits below for 

j-ou !" 

35 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

These words aroused my drowsy 

brain 
To wakefulness and conscious 

pain, 
1^'ur well they made me 

understand 
The parting hour was near at 

hand. 
A cooling plunge soon quite 

restored 
My shattered nerves, so my 

adored 
Was met with glances fresh and 

bright, 
Despite the vigils of the 

night. 
We reached the dock in time to 

be 
Too late ; and, helpless, stand and 

see, 
in spite of frantic waves and 

cries. 
The boat move off before our 

eyes. 
Of course the blame was laid on 

me. 
I stood all censure 

patiently, 

36 



Parting Scenes. 

For 'Felix, ever kind and 

mild. 
Had gently pressed my hand and 

smiled 
While softly whisp'riug in mine 

ear: 
"Another hour for us, my 

dear." 
Beneath a tree at 

liudesheim 
We sat and sweetly passed the 

time 
In planning future joys, to 

be 
Conjointly shared by him and 

me 
When martial law should leave him 

free 
To seek a Land of 

Liberty, 
Where every num may choose in 

life 
His occupation and his 

wife. 
The tardy moments quickly 

fly 

When lovers wait to say 
good-by. 

37 



An Idyl of the Rhine. 

A boat came steaming down the 

Ehine ; 
Great, melting eyes looked down in 

mine 
And hearts beat wildly as it 

bore 
Directly for the classic 

shore. 
We stepped aboard, my Love and 

I, 

I choked and could not say 

good-by, 
So much I feared to sob 

aloud 
Before a curious, gaping 

crowd. 
But when I heard the captain 

cry, 
"Aboard!" and others shout 

"Good-by!" 
The world became a blank, and 

he 
Who held my hand, the world to 

mo. 
I quickly raised my drooping 

face 
Toward his for one more sweet 

embrace ; 

38 



Paftingf Scenes* 

AiKl he, ns quickly, bowed liis 

head. 
And kissing me most fondlj^ 

said. 
In mingled tones of love and 

pain: 
"Leben sie wolil, auf 

loiedersehcn !" 
A moment after he had 

gone. 
And I, upon the deck, 

alone, 
In silent tears of grief 

remained 
To dream of Paradise 

regained. 
He stood and watched me from the 

shore, 
I saw him kiss a glove he 

wore 
And wave it in a last 

adieu 
Till glove and Love were lost to 

view. 



39 



An Idyl of the Rliine. 



r€nuoU 

Oh, gay, impulsive, trusting 

youth. 
Bright, hopeful days when life, 

forsooth, 
Is naught but sunbeams, love and 

flowers. 
And tears are only gentle 

showers. 
The Joys which follow in thy 

train 
Soon leave us ne'er to come 

again. 
Enchanting days, too quickly 

flown! 
Had my fair springtime never 

known 
A romance so divinely 

sweet 
The season would be 

incomplete. 

40 





•.: .1.1^ < 




MARY. 



L'Envoi. 

.Tho' brief the passion we may 

feel. 
The precious moments, which 

reveal 
The depths of human bliss are 

fraught 
With memories for tender 

thought. 
Now, ofttimes, when the day is 

done 
And stars come stealing, one by 

one. 
Above me, in my dreams I 

see 
A white glove wave a kiss to 

me 
And in sweet fancy hear 

again : 
"Leban sie wold! Auf 

wiedersehen !" 



41 



A.nar U 



•901 



1901 



